Gunner Stockton 'wired' for clutch performances in big games

ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia’s offense didn’t have much wiggle room on Saturday in a 43-35 win over Ole Miss. The Rebels started the game with five touchdowns on their first five drives. In order to stay within striking distance, Gunner Stockton and company had little to no margin for error.
Stockton led the Bulldogs to 20 points in the first half. An untimely offensive pass interference penalty led to a field goal on the opening drive and the clock got in the way at the end of the first half or else UGA might have put together a run similar to the Rebels.
In the second half, Stockton caught fire. He connected on 12 of 12 passes for 135 yards and three touchdowns. He finished with five total touchdowns in his eighth career start, once again playing his best ball when his best was needed.
“Let’s give credit where credit’s due,” Kirby Smart said. “He’s wired for these type moments because he’s tough. And his team believes in him.”
You’ll have to go back to the second quarter to find the play that seems to have impressed Smart the most. With Georgia needing a touchdown down 14-10, Stockton pulled the football on a zone read, avoided a defender in the backfield, and zig-zagged his way into the end zone from 22 yards out.
Smart kind of marveled at the play afterward, indicating that Ole Miss had the perfect call to stop what Stockton did with the football. The fourth-year junior did it all. He extended plays with his legs, picking up yards via scramble or finding the receiver.
What’s more, Stockton missed significant time this week with an oblique injury. Smart said that he didn’t practice much on Monday or Tuesday and the staff tried to take the run game off his hands to keep him healthy. The Georgia signal caller wasn’t having an of that.
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Stockton told the coaches that he wanted to run the ball, that his team needed him to be involved in the run game.
He also threw the ball downfield effectively, finding Colbie Young for a 36-yard pickup on the opening drive and then hitting Dillon Bell for the same number of yards in the fourth quarter with Georgia facing a 2nd and 12 from its own territory. The throw to Bell put the Bulldogs in position to score and make it an eight-point game.
It’s not Stockton’s first clutch performance of the season. He had a huge fourth quarter in Georgia’s comeback win at Tennessee. He was also unflappable in the fourth quarter at Auburn last week when Georgia went on an eight-minute, 45-second death march that ended with an 11-yard touchdown from Stockton.
In addition to being tough, Stockton is also a consistently positive voice in the locker room. When he speaks, that is.
“The offensive line, I mean, they see it,” Smart said of Stockton’s traits. “They see how that kid plays. They want to play for him. They want to compete for him. The backs, too. The receivers, they love Gunner. I mean, Gunner’s the most lovable guy because he never crosses anybody. He’s just Mr. Positive. ‘Yes, sir, coach. Yes, sir, coach.’ Can’t get him to say anything.”